Roll Damn Tide
A long damn day. But beautiful weather for the drive down to Tuscaloosa. Sunny, blue skies, and our high was 87F here, 88F in Tuscaloosa. And by the way, 88F feels a lot hotter in Tuscaloosa than it does in Birmingam.
In I spent a couple of hours in the basement of Smith Hall, in one of the exhibit workshops, more with the portions of the "mosasaur in question" that are going on display soon, and so will be unavilable for study. And then I went back to Mary Bryant Hall, where the state geological survey is located and the bulk of the UAMNH collections are stored, and I looked over the many other bones that won't be on display. (I'm having those loaned to McWane later this autumn.) Pages and pages of handwritten notes that I expect no one but me could read, scores of measurements, and a dash of speculation. My thanks to Adiël Klompmaker, UAMNH Curator of Paleontology, for being, as usual, so hospitable and giving up part of his afternoon. Good and profitable visit. I think I will feature photos from yesterday for the rest of the week, because I promise a random assortment of photos from yesterday beats anything I can take hereabouts.
Back in Birmingham, we stopped at Greenwise, and it was my first time in a market in well over a year. It was sort of overwhelming. And depressing, seeing all that foot my awful teeth cannot manage.
And speaking of, I sort of absued myself yesterday, though not in any enjoyable way. I ate nothing all day, then had a two sliced of pound cake (with Polaner blueberry spread on them) and a can of Vienna sausages for "dinner," around 10 p.m. I made grits this morning, I was so hungry when I woke. Anyway, last night, before sleep, I watched Richard Fleisher's Soylent Green (1973) for the first time in ages. In so small part, I expect the movie is good because it's based on Harry Harrison's 1966 Make Room! Make Room!, but - other than the jarring 1960s wardrobes and decor and a couple of silly chase scenes - it really is an amazingly effective film, and startlingly prescient. It's set in 2022, so I think it's two or three, maybe three or four, decades off. We'll reach that level of climate-change induced famine soon enough, though. Will we resort to cannabilism or let all that protein go to waste? Edward G. Robinson's performance is superb. Really, some truly grand science-fiction films were made in the '70s.
The Substack is going well, in terms of subscribers. We're up to 71. I've said I'd like a hundred by Friday, as I mean to make the first substantial post this weekend. Looks like we'll make it with room to spare.
Meanwhile, please visit the Dreaming Squid Sundries shop and buy a book (by me). We're still staring down the barrell of self-employment taxes (even more fun than the other kind) and a probable vet bill for Selwyn (to say nothing of long-delayed dentistry). Thanks.
I leeave you with my new author's photo.
Later Tater Beans,
Aunt Beast
1:54 p.m.
This postdated entry was made the morning of 10/3/23.
In I spent a couple of hours in the basement of Smith Hall, in one of the exhibit workshops, more with the portions of the "mosasaur in question" that are going on display soon, and so will be unavilable for study. And then I went back to Mary Bryant Hall, where the state geological survey is located and the bulk of the UAMNH collections are stored, and I looked over the many other bones that won't be on display. (I'm having those loaned to McWane later this autumn.) Pages and pages of handwritten notes that I expect no one but me could read, scores of measurements, and a dash of speculation. My thanks to Adiël Klompmaker, UAMNH Curator of Paleontology, for being, as usual, so hospitable and giving up part of his afternoon. Good and profitable visit. I think I will feature photos from yesterday for the rest of the week, because I promise a random assortment of photos from yesterday beats anything I can take hereabouts.
Back in Birmingham, we stopped at Greenwise, and it was my first time in a market in well over a year. It was sort of overwhelming. And depressing, seeing all that foot my awful teeth cannot manage.
And speaking of, I sort of absued myself yesterday, though not in any enjoyable way. I ate nothing all day, then had a two sliced of pound cake (with Polaner blueberry spread on them) and a can of Vienna sausages for "dinner," around 10 p.m. I made grits this morning, I was so hungry when I woke. Anyway, last night, before sleep, I watched Richard Fleisher's Soylent Green (1973) for the first time in ages. In so small part, I expect the movie is good because it's based on Harry Harrison's 1966 Make Room! Make Room!, but - other than the jarring 1960s wardrobes and decor and a couple of silly chase scenes - it really is an amazingly effective film, and startlingly prescient. It's set in 2022, so I think it's two or three, maybe three or four, decades off. We'll reach that level of climate-change induced famine soon enough, though. Will we resort to cannabilism or let all that protein go to waste? Edward G. Robinson's performance is superb. Really, some truly grand science-fiction films were made in the '70s.
The Substack is going well, in terms of subscribers. We're up to 71. I've said I'd like a hundred by Friday, as I mean to make the first substantial post this weekend. Looks like we'll make it with room to spare.
Meanwhile, please visit the Dreaming Squid Sundries shop and buy a book (by me). We're still staring down the barrell of self-employment taxes (even more fun than the other kind) and a probable vet bill for Selwyn (to say nothing of long-delayed dentistry). Thanks.
I leeave you with my new author's photo.
Later Tater Beans,
Aunt Beast
1:54 p.m.
This postdated entry was made the morning of 10/3/23.